Beacon Santa: When making ends meet is a struggle, what happens at Christmas?

Kathleen Cordeiro kcordeiro@wickedlocal.com

Thursday

Nov 22, 2018 at 3:01 AM

"Every day since school has started, I play the scenario in my head on how I'm going to save money for the holidays," wrote a widow with two elementary-school children.

"After the passing of my husband/their dad, every day is a challenge. I work as much as I can to keep a roof over their heads and everything else they need. But it is a struggle not to be able to save money after bills are paid."

She has asked Beacon Santa to consider assisting her family this year.

"We received applications for this program in previous years, but were always able to make ends meet, so didn't apply," wrote another mother of two children. "This year has been tougher since I was laid off and living on one income for a family of four is a struggle. We have had to make sacrifices to make ends meet."

The non-profit Beacon Santa Fund has received nearly 400 applications from families asking for help bringing Christmas joy to their children. Most of them come from single- and two-parent households. And some come from grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren. All of them are struggling to pay for the necessities.

"It's been a big hardship financially as we try to pay bills every month and barely squeak by, just making the minimum payment, and at times choosing which bill will have to wait," writes one grandmother. Before taking custody of their grandchildren, the couple were managing just fine. "Now, there is no cushion, no savings and no extra."

These grandmother says what so many parents and grandparents say in their applications: "They didn't ask to be brought into this world in such a bad situation. All they look for is to be loved and cared for, which I give them every minute of every day. They don't ask for much and being able to see the joy in their faces of Christmas morning will be a blessing for us all."

The joy that Beacon Santa can help parents - and grandparents - bring to children is only possible through the generosity of readers in the communities Beacon Santa serves: Acton, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Tewksbury Westford and Wilmington.

Every November and December, readers have been asked to donate to the Beacon Santa Fund, and each year readers have responded with generosity that has enabled the non-profit to continue its mission for more than 50 years. Beacon Santa provides retail store gift cards that can be used to purchase gifts or clothing for children.

Donors don't receive thank-you notes from recipients of Beacon Santa assistance, but the gratitude of the people they help is certain:

"A big thank-you for taking the time to consider a widow with two beautiful children to help this holiday season." Beacon Santa says thank-you, too.

Merchants support Beacon Santa

Again this year, merchants of Acton Woods Plaza are planning a special Saturday to support the Beacon Santa Fund. Join in the holiday spirit by shopping at the Acton Woods Plaza stores on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The annual event features the Acton-Boxborough Madrigal Singers strolling throughout the plaza sharing songs of the season and a visit from Santa.

Participating merchants will donate a portion of the day's proceeds to the Beacon Santa Fund.